Railway-car extension-step



(No Model.)

G. W. HESSLER.

RAILWAY GAR EXTENSION STEP.

No. 594,082. Patented Nov. 23,1897.

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Allorney I THE norms PETERS 0a.. moro-Lrrm. wunmm'on u c NITED STATES- PATENT 0 FFICE.

GEORGE W. HESSLER, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY-CAR EXTENSION-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,682, dated November 23, 1897.

Application filed January 5, 1897. Serial No. 618 ,034. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HEssLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Oar Extension-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othtended whenever desirable.

Having this object in View, the invention consists of an extension-step of novel and improved construction, as will appear more fully in the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in

- to the member 5 by a toggle-joint 10.

Figure 1 is a front view of my step when extended; Fig. 2, a side elevation showing the step extended; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the step folded; Fig. 4, a bottom view showing the step extended.

The ordinary steps are shown at 1, while 2 designates my extension-steps.

The numerals 3 and 4designate links,which have horizontally-extending members 5, that are suitably secured to the bottom of the lowest one of the steps 1, and the links 3 and 4 are joined to said portions or members 5 by rule-joints 6.

The numerals 7 and 8 designate toggle-levers located at opposite ends of the steps, each toggle-lever having a rule-joint 9. The upper member of the toggle-lever is joined The lower member of each toggle-lever is extended forwardly at 11 and joined to the extension-steps, as shown. These latter members of the toggle-levers each have a longitudi nally-extending slot 12.

The numerals 13 and 14 designate segments, which are secured to the portions 11 and pass freely through openings 15 made in the links a 3 and 4 and through the slots 12. Each segment has two pins 16 and 17, located on opposite sides of the toggle-levers. Secured to the lowest one of the steps 1 are springcatches 18 and 19, having lower headed ends 20 and upper downwardly-extending portions 21. It will be observed that the heads 20 have curved or rounded inner surfaces 20, so that when the extension-step isswung upwardly these surfaces will guide it and cause a spread of the spring-catches until the heads have been passed, whereupon said catches will retract themselves and lock the steps in raised or lowered position. I employ a lever 22, which is pivoted to the bottom of the lowest step 1.

The numerals 23 and 24 designate releaserods, which are pivoted to this lever on opposite sides of its fulcrum and extend loosely through the portions 21 of the springs and are connected to the springs themselves. The forward portion of this lever is formed into a handle, so that it can be easily grasped. If desirable, a rod 25 could be pivoted to the lever 22 and operated by a lever or other suitable means located on the car-platform.

The operation is as follows: If the step is extended and it is desirable to fold the same, this can be done by simply pressing against the extension-step, whereupon the pin 17 will come in engagement with the toggle-levers and break the same, and at the same time said step will be folded against the links 3 and 4 and the links and the toggle-levers folded backwardly, and when the step is pushed in between the springs they will spread until said step has passed the catchheads, whereupon the device will be locked, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When it is desirable to lower the step, this can be done by shifting the lever 22, whereupon the springs will be pushed apart and the step will fall by its own weight and lock itself. This operation can also be accomplished by working the mechanism on the car-platform,

which will be equivalent to directly operating the lever 22.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an extension car-step, the combination with a foldable step, of permanent springcatches adapted to engage therewith on opposite sides and hold said step folded, a shifting lever, and connections between said lever and the catches whereby when the lever is moved they may be spread and disengaged from the step.

2. In an extension car-step, the combination with the main steps, of links hinged thereto, a step hinged to the links, toggle-1evers connecting the step with the main steps, mechanism carried by the movable step adapted to break the toggle-levers when the step is being folded, and means for holding the movable step in folded position.

3. In an extension car-step, the combination with the main steps, of links hinged thereto, a step hinged to the links, toggle-1evers connecting the main steps and the other step, and members connected to the single step and passing loosely through the links and the toggle-levers, said members being provided with devices adapted to lock or unlock the toggle-levers and means for holding the additional step in folded position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. HESSLER.

Witnesses:

F. R. HAYDEN, D. M. HESSLER. 

